Stokes & Coventry

Every match is now huge,we need about another 20 points from 16 games to be in with a fair chance of surviving. So far we have 26 points from 30 games. It's a massive challenge. Fortunately there is a mini league of 8 or 9 teams we are competing against, with Barnet and Chesterfield the key teams to watch. It's like the old days struggling to stay in the Conference.

Tomorrow is arguably a match against the biggest team we have ever played in league football, The Ricoh certainly the best venue we have ever played an away league match at. It will be an atmosphere to savour with Coventry aiming for promotion and FGR endeavouring to avoid relegation. It will be extra special with Chris Stokes playing for Coventry and his wife and child watching from the stands. Chris was always very popular when at FGR and I'm sure he will get a good reception from the crowd.

Ironically my former team, Bury are playing Blackburn Rovers with a similar mismatch of recent history and current fortunes. Bury look almost certain to be relegated, Blackburn in the hunt for promotion.

Blackburn have won the Premier League & the F.A.C. Coventry have won the F.A.C. and played two seasons of European football. And of course Bury have won the F.A.C twice, scoring 10 goals without reply!

As I read on another thread, blue moons are more common than FGR being relegated so lets hope tomorrows result fits the occasion.

Incredible to see where Coventry are now. It doesn't seem long ago they had the likes of Darren Huckerby, Robbie Keane etc playing for them in the Premier League. The Ricoh is impressive but shows the downside of not owning your own stadium. A lot of their fans don't attend home games in protest of the way the club is ran, so they travel well and probably could have sold many more tickets than they were allocated.

Chris Stokes I'm sure will get a warm reception, but hopefully he will leave TNL empty handed.

Hundreds might claim to have been to both games but I was at both games!! Won't forget going into the bar at the Ricoh with couple of mates before match, chandeliers, waterfall and palm trees, with adjoining casino. Never to be forgotten.

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We’re a club that looks to the future, but our identity is forged from a rich 128-year history. Founded in 1889, we’re one of the oldest football clubs in the world.

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